WRC
WRC stars receive first taste of Rally Scotland
FIA World Rally Championship stars received their first taste of what to expect from next year’s all-new Rally Scotland after taking part in a fact-finding mission over the weekend.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans and M-Sport Ford Rally1 rookie Jon Armstrong, alongside WRC2 stars Romet Jürgenson and factory Lancia drivers Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin, headed to Scotland to take part in the 10-stage Grampian Forest Rally on Friday and Saturday.
The British Rally Championship event also acted as the FIA candidate rally for Rally Scotland ahead of its anticipated inclusion on the 2027 WRC calendar.
Evans jumped behind the wheel of a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 to gather crucial data on the Scottish gravel roads that could feature on next year’s route. The Welshman did not compete competitively, instead running as the event’s course car.
He was impressed by the stages and expects Rally Scotland to provide a significant challenge for crews when the rally takes up an anticipated autumn slot on the 2027 schedule.
“Overall, the stages are nice. They're pretty fast, probably even a bit on the fast side in some stage sections, but fine.
“It's not so dissimilar to Wales in the end. I think the surface is a bit different. Naturally it is a bit faster here, not quite as flowing, and a bit more cambered here.
"It's going to be quite challenging. It's very fast. And of course, when you're not used to this car, those are the bits that I find difficult here. I'm sure that when we come with a car that we know well, it won't be an issue.
"I think it was good to come and have a look and at least sample some of it and get some notes. We've got a flavour, we know a bit of what to expect. The Rally2 car is very much in line with what we're going to have next year in terms of wear, so we've been able to evaluate tyre wear and all that.
“Of course, it is drier now, probably than we're going to have next year. We'll learn something from it, I'm sure, even if it doesn't feel super significant at the moment. Obviously, it's surprising what getting your eye in can do.”
M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong took an impressive overall victory aboard a Ford Fiesta Rally2, marking his first-ever gravel rally triumph after beating M-Sport team-mate Jürgenson by 9.3sec.
Lancia’s Nikolay Gryazin finished third, while team-mate Yohan Rossel rounded out the top five.
“To come out and win and get my first win on gravel is great. We have always been put in the Tarmac specialist box, so it just goes to show how good the pace in Rally1 in the WRC is that we can take a step back and be right on the pace in a Rally2 car,” said Armstrong.
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“It is very important [to be here] and I would say it is very important for next year to secure a drive. It is nice to show we can do it on gravel and overall it has been a very nice event and I can’t wait to see what they do next year in WRC.
“The stages are going to be really good. They have such a nice character and camber and are very, very fast also, so I think it is going to be a brilliant event.
“We have been enjoying the roads and they are a good mixture of flowing, camber and some nice cuts, which is a bit rare. Overall, it has been impressive the type of road we have here and they have way more forests they are looking at for next year.”
Rally Scotland organisers are yet to finalise the route for next year’s event, but from what was served up at the Grampian Forest Rally, Jürgenson believes the roads have a unique character.
“It is quite different actually. I cannot really compare it to anything else. The stages are good but they need to find some longer stages or connect them. The rhythm changes quite a lot and as a driver you really need to adjust, as sometimes it is very slow and then it goes flat out,” said Jürgenson.
Lancia’s decision to send both of its factory WRC2 crews also proved a valuable opportunity not only to prepare for Rally Scotland, but to further develop its Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2 on gravel.
“To be honest it has been a good day for us to adjust the car for here. We are here to work. It is tough because we always discover everything you try this year and it is frustrating for the driver to not have that feeling immediately,” said Rossel.
“It is good learning and now we need to work. We have six months to be ready, but we need to work now.
“The stages are very challenging and to be honest it is so fast, and if you don’t have good confidence it is not easy to keep the grip, but it is nice to discover.”
Gryazin added: “For us it is good to test here. The stages will be a challenge next year. The stages remind me a bit of Wales and Chile.”
